The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-14
ANXIOUS BUT UNDECIDED.
NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND
NECESSARY REPAIRS,
With Attendant Expense, a Question
Puzxllng 10 the School
Board.

The Sci DOL Board met in monthly
session at their rooms IN Old Fellows
building yesterday fternoon. All the
members were present, and dispose d
OF routine business in style which
indicated something OF deep interest
on each and every mind. Alter the
preliminary business OF winding up
affairs OF che past session the financial
report was presented. Vt sho wed a
deficit not exceeding $4,000. The
question OF erecting new and improved
school buildings and making repairs
where nect esary was then raised, and
an earnest informal discui sion ensued.
Ignorance of what the people de-
hiTed in the premises prevented a def.
mite conclusion and another meeting
will Re he'd mkt Friday with
that purpose in view. Attention
was called to the condition OF the
bulldogs on Linden and Alabama
streets, which resembled gigantic barns
more than houses, where the children
Of rich and poor parents gather to be
instructed and ftted for the battle Ct
life Only one sentiment was heard
and seen depicted on the Countenance
of the member, aud that was morti.
ticstion over the fact that such was
the casa.
Alusiou was a so made 10 ths dona.
ton Of the lot, corner OF Jefferson and
Third streets, by the government, and
plans for iis utiliS ltion were submitted
aud discussed. The superinten dent,
Capt. Collier, favored the erection OF
substantial brick structure suitable
for high school, urging that it was
far more central and convenient than
the present one on Market street.
Children from South Memphis would
thereby be saved six blocks with no
unreasonable hardship upon those
from the opposite direction. The new
structure, together with repairs on old
ones, would cost probably $4,000 As
"a slight Offset to this, the present Mar.
ket street school building could take
the plsce of the Alabama street and
Bethel scbe lls, saving about $1,000 q
year now paid In rent for the two.
would the public favor this pol
icy p was the question that balted the
board. Complaints OF too much debt
had often been raised, and this the
gentlemen were opposed to hearing.
The necessity for action Of the kind
proposed above was apparent to all,
but the willingness 10 risk censnre was
lacking, Probably nine out of every
ten citizens" said one speaker, would
say, go ahead and have the work
done The tenth, equ ally interested
and solicitous for the schools, but hav-
ing large property interests, would in
terpose objections based solely on
averseness to increased liability. Good
and fourithing schools are an import
ant factor in elpvsting aud maintain
ing the value Of property, and II we
could only grouse serious thought on
the subject, l believe the sentiment In
favor OF better school houses would be
universal"
1t WAS not positively 80 decided, but
there is a prob bility that a meeting
of the leading property owners and
business men will be called at an early
day to advise with the School Board
as to what should be done. Without
some understanding and sanction Of
this sort, the gentlemen do not feel
warranted in pushing the matter Of
improvement any further.